Principles of EcologyPrinciples of Ecology

13.1 – 13.613.1 – 13.6

Have you ever owned a pet?Have you ever owned a pet?

1. What are the needs that a pet 1. What are the needs that a pet might have?might have?

Goldfish Scenario

You are at the carnival. You decide to compete in the “ring toss” or “ping pong toss” game. The grand prize: a goldfish. After spending all your money on snacks and drinks you are down to your last dollar. This throw better count! You remember the “Natural Selection Bird Contest”, which taught you about trajectory, balance of strength, and poise. You throw. It falls in! You’re welcome! They give you your prize in a plastic sandwich bag. As you are heading home you remember that there is a glass bowl and some left over fish food in the cupboard. And then it hits you: what happened to your last fish? Let’s not think about that now. This little fish seems happy. The next morning you find your goldfish floating upside down. What happened?

With your partner, write down:With your partner, write down:

2. What might have gone wrong?2. What might have gone wrong?

NowNow

With your partner, read With your partner, read ““Goldfish CareGoldfish Care” and fill out ” and fill out

Goldfish Needs Goldfish Needs & & Did This Kill Did This Kill Your Goldfish?Your Goldfish?

Could We Have Saved Our Fish?Could We Have Saved Our Fish?

More fish…More fish…

If our goldfish survives and is happy, can we start adding other fish to our aquarium?

How about the Mosquito Fish?How about the Mosquito Fish?

3. Make a list of things you need to know to decide

whether or not they can live together.

Mosquito Fish Short

Then,

Read Mosquito Fish Preference cards

Then,

Fill out “Mosquitofish needs” & “Shared needs”

Could a goldfish and a mosquito fish survive Could a goldfish and a mosquito fish survive together?together?

4. How would you design an aquarium so that both of these fish can live together?

A living organism has needs. Those needs may be different from the needs of

other species.

Living organisms must obtain the things they need for their survival from their

environment.

EcosystemsEcosystems

• Ecology = study of interactions of living organisms with one another and their environment.

• These are the levels of organization:– Organism– Population– Community– Ecosystem– Biome

EcosystemsEcosystems

• Organism = a single member of a species

• Population = many members of a species living together in one area

• Community = groups of different species living together in one area

EcosystemsEcosystems

• An ecosystem is the community plus all the different physical aspects of the habitat. This includes:– Abiotic (nonliving) factors such as rocks,

water, weather and soil.– Biotic (living) factors, which are all the living

organisms like plants, animals and bacteria.

• Biodiversity describes the number of species found within an ecosystem.

Desert Desert

OrganismOrganism::California QuailCalifornia Quail

PopulationPopulation::Several California QuailSeveral California Quail

CommunityCommunity::Quail, Hare & CoyoteQuail, Hare & Coyote

EcosystemEcosystem::Biotic + Abiotic FactorsBiotic + Abiotic Factors

Keystone SpeciesKeystone Species

Flow of EnergyFlow of Energy

• Autotrophs, or Producers, are organisms who get their energy from non-living sources.

• Heterotrophs, or Consumers, are organisms who get their energy from other living, or once-living resources.

Flow of EnergyFlow of Energy• Chemosynthesis = a process where an organism

uses chemicals to make carbohydrates.• Example: CO2, H2O, H2S, O2 → Sugar Compounds

Food Chains & Food WebsFood Chains & Food Webs

• “Food Web” video in science resources

• videos

Food Chains & Food WebsFood Chains & Food Webs• Food Chains

show a sequence that links species by feeding relationships.

• Food Webs show complex networks of feeding relationships.

HerbivoresHerbivores only eat plants only eat plants

CarnivoresCarnivores only eat animals only eat animals

OmnivoresOmnivores eat plants & animals eat plants & animals

DetritivoresDetritivores eat dead organic eat dead organic mattermatter

Scavengers?Scavengers?

-Scavengers, such as vultures, are considered detritivores.

DecomposersDecomposers break down organic break down organic mattermatter

Trophic Levels:(nourishment or food levels)

→ Quaternary Consumer

→ Tertiary Consumer

→ Secondary Consumer

→ Primary Consumer

→ Producer

Energy Pyramids show transfer of energy in an ecosystem.

→ 6 Kilocalories

→ 60 Kilocalories

→ 600 Kilocalories

→ 6000 Kilocalories

Interactions in Interactions in EcosystemsEcosystems

Ch. 14.1 – 14.5Ch. 14.1 – 14.5

Interactions in EcosystemsInteractions in Ecosystems

• Habitat = all of the biotic and abiotic factors in the area where an organism lives.

Interactions in EcosystemsInteractions in Ecosystems

• Ecological niche = how an organism lives within its habitat.

CompetitionCompetition = when two organisms fight for the = when two organisms fight for the same limited resources. same limited resources.

• Interspecific competition = different species fight for same resources.

• Intraspecific competition = same species fight for same resources.

PredationPredation = when one organism captures another = when one organism captures another for food.for food.

Interactions in EcosystemsInteractions in Ecosystems

• Symbiosis = close ecological relationship between two or more organisms of different species that live in direct contact with one another.

ParasitismParasitism• The lamprey has

attached itself to this fish and has begun to eat its flesh.

• Lamprey wins, fish loses = parasitism

ParasitismParasitism

• This caterpillar (tomato hornworm) has wasp eggs on its back. When the wasps hatch they will prey on the caterpillar.

• Wasp wins, caterpillar loses = parasitism.

MutualismMutualism

• The caterpillar gives nectar to the ant, the ant protects the caterpillar from predators.

• Ant wins, caterpillar wins = mutualism

Commensalism Commensalism • Clown fish is

protected from predators by anemone's stinging cells, but anemone does not benefit.

• Clown fish wins, anemone doesn’t care = commensalism

Commensalism or Mutualism?Commensalism or Mutualism?

• Oxpecker picks fleas and ticks off of rhino.

• Is this commensalism or mutualism?

Commensalism or Mutualism?Commensalism or Mutualism?

• Tapeworm takes nutrition from cows intestine.

• Cow is not hurt, unless too many tapeworms develop.

BiomesBiomes

• A biome is a group of plants and animals that live in a particular place because they have adapted to the climate.

Climate? What’s that?Climate? What’s that?

• Climate is determined by:– Temperature (high and low) during the year– Precipitation– Amount of sunlight during the year

What parts of the planet did I leave What parts of the planet did I leave out?out?

• Ice worlds

• Oceans

Tropical RainforestTropical RainforestRainfall: More than 100”/year Temp.: 68-93 F˚• Warm all year long • LOTS of plant and animal species• Animals use loud vocalizations to defend territory

and attract mates

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry ForestRainfall: around 100”/year Temp: 68-93 F˚• Warm all year long • Have long periods without rain• Animals must find water holes during dry season

Tropical SavannaTropical SavannaRainfall: 20-50”/year Temp: warm/hot all

year• Grassland with a few scattered trees• Rainfall is concentrated in 6-8 months, very dry rest

of year• Many hoofed animals like gazelles and other

herbivores

Mediterranean Woodland/Shrub landMediterranean Woodland/Shrub landor Chaparral or Chaparral

Rainfall: 15-25”/year Temp: warm to cool• Warm to hot, dry summers• Cool, wet winters • Plants adapted to extremes in temperature and

moisture• Mostly low-branch plant species (bushes/shrubs)

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland

Rainfall: 20-35”/year Temp: -30 to 100 F˚• Dominated by grass instead of trees• Vast temperature range• Many organisms live below ground to survive the

dry, windy conditions

Temperate ForestTemperate ForestRainfall: 30-60”/year Temp: -20 to 90 F˚• In areas with very distinct seasons• Vast temperature range• Trees are deciduous (lose their leaves in the fall)

Boreal ForestBoreal ForestRainfall: 12-33”/year Temp: warm to very cold• Short, moist, warm summers • Long, cold, dry winters• Growing season less than 130 days• Trees are mostly evergreen• Animals have heavy fur coats to withstand winter

TundraTundraRainfall: 6-10”/year Temp: cold• Long, dark, cold winters (up to 10 months long)• Few plant species, mostly mosses• Limited drainage for water• Ground is permanently frozen• Growing season is 50-60 days

DesertDesertRainfall: < 20”/year Temp: hot to cold• Temperature varies: can be hot & dry, semiarid,

coastal, or cold (all have low rainfall)• Plants adapted to storing water or having deep root

systems• Many animals nocturnal to avoid heat of day

Changing EcosystemsChanging Ecosystems

• Succession = the gradual and sequential replacement of populations in an area.Pioneer species = first species to colonize a

new habitat.

Seral community = communities that come after pioneer species that gradually replace each other.

Climax community = community that remain stable as long as there is no disturbance.

• Primary Succession = from nothing to life

(can take a really long time)

• Secondary Succession = from disruption back to life

(doesn’t take as long)